Cape Town: One of the robbers terrorising cyclists who use the Woodstock Bridge to get in and out of Cape Town met his match this morning when he picked the wrong target. Lt Col Johan Pentz, an avid cyclist himself, conducted an operation with Woodstock Crime Prevention Unit and patrolled the notorious route on his bicycle to gain first-hand information about the robberies while his backup team was in the vicinity.

According to South African Police Service, while crossing the Woodstock Bridge, Lt Col Pentz was attacked by a suspect who managed to grab his cellular telephone pouch, which was in his back pocket, and flee on foot. He was pursued by Lt Col Pentz and apprehended not far from the crime scene. The 34-year-old foreign national also had a tablet in his possession that he could not account for.

He is detained on charges of robbery and the possession of presumed stolen property and is expected to make his court appearance in Cape Town on Monday.

SAPS and other law enforcement agencies will continue with integrated operations in the area in a bid to neutralise the threat, and in the meantime, cyclists making use of this route are cautioned about the robberies and encouraged to ride in groups and be alert of their surroundings at all times.